Joining the chorus of rights advocates and parliamentarians advocating for the release of Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan, Peter Gitmark of Norway’s Høyre Party sends a letter to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. Peter is a long-time advocate for Vietnam’s human rights defenders.
May 21, 2012
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
1 Hoang Hoa Tham Street
Ba Dinh, Ha Noi
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to express my grave concern on the recent escalation of crackdown on human rights and pro-democracy activists. Most recently is the case of Dr Nguyen Quoc Quan, a mathematician and a well-known human defender from the US. He was arrested on April 17 upon arriving at Tan Son Nhat airport. He was charged with “terrorism” for possessing articles on leadership skills and advocating peaceful activism.
In addition, there are many other cases that had triggered widespread outcry from the international community on human rights abuses. A few highlighted cases, such as bloggers Dieu Cay, Phan Thanh Hai, Ta Phong Tan and Paulus Le Son, I believe that there is an extensive list of many more who are currently being imprisoned unjustly for advocating rights.
It appears that all ofthese activists were arrested on some vague national security codes that are used arbitrarily, as a mean to silence opposed voices. Vietnam is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Civil Rights and Political Rights, therefore we would expect that Vieüram must uphold these values in respect basic human rights.
I urge you Prime Minister to intervene and cease all these crackdowns as well as to release all current political prisoners. Vietnam needs to move further forward and this can only be achieved if international standards are maintained. Laws must be administered appropriately and must not be used to protect the government or to persecute dissent.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Peter S Gitmark MP
Source: Peter Gitmark, MP
